Emergency Auto Assistance

Drivers are at the greatest risk for crashes in the middle of the night.  Although this is the time when the fewest drivers are on the road, more accidents occur.  If you must drive at night there are some important factors to consider.  Here are a few tips to keep you safe.

First of all, make sure that you have your headlights aiming properly.  To find out the proper procedure for doing this, consult your service manual.

Next, as the driver, don’t focus on other drivers’ headlights.  Doing this can make your eyes blind for five seconds, because that’s how long it takes your eyes to adjust.

If you’re feeling at all sleepy, stay off of the road.  Also, don’t try to use loud music, caffeine, or rolling down the windows to keep you awake.  These are unreliable tactics that will have you calling for emergency auto assistance.

Finally, avoid staring at the centerline because you can get “highway hypnosis”, which is when you have an impaired reaction time.  Instead, keep your eyes moving around and change your focus often.

Following these easy tips can keep you safe on the road at night.  Also, make sure to have an emergency roadside assistance program in case an emergency arises.  You don’t want to become stranded on the side of the road at night.

With the increase in gas prices around the nation, consumers are finding themselves wondering what fuel-efficient alternatives there are. In fact, more and more drivers are putting off getting to the gas pump and finding themselves stuck on the side of the road calling for emergency auto assistance. Gas-electric hybrids have received a large amount of attention recently, yet, diesel powered cars may be the answer.

Diesel cars have gained a lot of popularity around the world. They account for approximately 50% of new cars in Europe; however, U.S. car shoppers have been slow to gain interest.

Even though fuel mileage levels can be around 40% higher with diesels than gas powered cars, diesels only account for 2% of the new cars in the U.S.

There is a whole new generation of diesels that are clean, quiet and much more powerful than in the past. The 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec sedan will prove that this recent diesel technology can be luxurious in addition to giving you 37-mpg.

Diesels have come very far and are becoming a great option for drivers. Also, there are becoming more and more models for consumers to choose from.

There have been several Front Range companies who have been trying for years to improve upon auto batteries.  For them, John McCain’s offer of $300 million to the developer of the battery responsible for leapfrogging electric and hybrid vehicles was very enticing.

Allowing vehicles to run on batteries instead of engines would reduce the consumption of gasoline and cut down on our country’s oil dependency.

However, the batteries aren’t cheap.  In fact, a lithium-ion battery is tens of thousands of dollars, and its technology hasn’t even debuted in a commercial car.

Even without McCain’s prize, there are plenty of incentives to improve batteries.  People are already putting a great deal of money into researching and developing batteries because technology is in high demand.

However, the U.S. needs to urge for additional battery research because China, Korea, and Japan have already forged ahead.

With the improvement of battery technology, people will soon forget the days of dead batteries and calls for emergency roadside assistance.  Instead, batteries will be associated with electric and hybrid cars

An emergency on the road can occur at any time, whether you have an old or new car.  Any number of problems could cause it, from a flat tire or breakdown, to running out of gas.  There are several things you can do to prepare yourself for a situation such as this.  First, you should sign up for a roadside assistance program.  Also, you should have a basic emergency kit in order to increase your safety and help get you back on the road.

Even with a road service program, you need access to a phone in order to contact them.  You could be on the side of the road waiting for a while, so it is essential to have a few items in a basic emergency kit.

Your emergency kit should first and foremost have a cell phone to call for emergency auto assistance.  Also, you should have flares to warn other drivers that your car is broken down.  A fire extinguisher will keep your vehicle from undergoing a great amount of damage should it catch on fire.  In addition, you need foam tire sealant, a jack and a lug wrench in the event that you have tire punctures. Finally, jumper cables are a must in case of a dead battery

Choosing a roadside assistance program that is right for you can be challenging.  Drivers should do their homework and find a company that they feel is reliable and trustworthy.  In addition, motorists should know what services they are paying for.

Recently, a Toyota customer purchased an extended warranty that has free roadside assistance with it.  This is supposed to give drivers help in the event of a breakdown or if they run out of gas.  Unfortunately, this customer ran out of gas on a freeway in Cleveland, but didn’t experience the emergency auto assistance desired.  The rescue driver didn’t even bring the gas initially, he had to run out and get it.  Then, he only put one gallon of gas in the car, when you are entitled to 3 gallons.  The one gallon wouldn’t even start the car, and when asked if he would go get more gas, the driver said, “No. They don’t pay me enough for that.”  Then the driver drove off!

This is a prime example of why people need to feel good about their emergency roadside assistance service company.  Make sure you know what services you are entitled to, and search the Internet for blogs about various companies.  You can learn a lot by reading customer comments.

Motorists are realizing that today’s vehicles are able to withstand more demands than ever. There are a variety of vehicles on the road that are durable and reliable. So, what cars are going to keep you from calling for emergency auto assistance?

Honda is always a sure thing because they put out cars that are known for safety and reliability. Also, their vehicles experience few problems and minimal repairs. The Honda Odyssey is a great example, which is ranked as the #1 durable vehicle. Also on the list are the Honda Civic, Pilot, CRV, and Accord.

There are some small SUVs that are also known for being durable. These are the Subaru Forester and the Volvo XC90. Two models in this category that offer luxury in addition to durability are the Audi A4 and the Acura RDX.

These vehicles make the list of the most durable vehicles because of safety ratings, performance, and lack of complaints. Anyone who is thinking of purchasing a new vehicle would feel peace of mind in these cars. Of course, you never want to leave home without a road service program in case of circumstances that are unforeseen.

According to a recent survey by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, many drivers believe they have super abilities to complete complex tasks behind the wheel. And although it may seem monotonous to just drive a car, multi-tasking while driving increases the chance for having an accident drastically. In addition, many calls for road service are due to multi-tasking. So, what are drivers really doing behind the wheel?

Well, 32% of drivers surveyed admit to reading while driving. The survey didn’t specify whether they are reading maps or autobiographies, but it doesn’t really matter. Either way, these drivers are 3.4 times more likely to get in an accident.

And, although most of us detest seeing drivers eat behind the wheel, NETS says that 70% of the surveyed drivers do it. These drivers have a two to three times greater chance of crashing because of their eating habits.

Another group of people are making work preparations behind the wheel. In fact, 10% of motorists admitted to making phone calls, reviewing notes, using computers, and making lists, all while trying to navigate during rush hour.

Although driving may seem monotonous at times, motorists need to resist the temptation to multi-task behind the wheel. These habits can result in accidents and calls for emergency roadside assistance.

Unfortunately, drunk driving is a common practice that is responsible for thousands of car accidents and calls for emergency roadside assistance every year.  Ideally, motorists should take responsibility and not get behind the wheel after drinking, but this doesn’t always happen.

Toyota has taken this matter seriously.  Currently, they are in the process of developing a system for vehicles in which cars are able to detect if a driver is drunk.  If the vehicle detects that the motorist is trying to drive while intoxicated it will shut down the car automatically.

Vehicles that have this detection system will have sweat sensors on the steering wheel, which detect abnormal alcohol levels in a person’s bloodstream.  The car won’t even start if there are high alcohol levels in the driver.

This system will also become affective if abnormal steering is detected, or if a camera determines that the pupils of the driver’s eyes aren’t focused.  The vehicle will then slowly come to a stop.

Toyota hopes to have cars equipped with this system by late 2009.

Nissan Motor has also experimented with devices similar to breathalyzers that can detect drunken drivers.  Other technologies that are similar, like alcohol ignition interlocks, are already being used in the U.S. and other countries.

Toyota and Nissan have taken a step in the right direction.  Hopefully, these new car safety features will cut down on auto accidents and road service calls.

It is an awful feeling when you go to start your car in the morning, just to discover that your battery is weak.  Luckily, many people have a road service program that can help them in this situation, but unfortunately, others don’t.  If a car isn’t getting sufficient power, it won’t start, however, help is now here.  The Intelligent Battery Sensor by Continental will warn you if your battery is running down due to age.  To do this, it determines your battery’s charge status.

Approximately one-third of car breakdowns are because of empty batteries.  The reason for this is that vehicle batteries today have to do more work than in years past.  For example, car electronics have taken on a huge responsibility.  They help passengers remain safe, orient the driver in traffic, and allow passengers more comfort.  Batteries are required to supply all of this power.  This is one reason that The Electronic Battery Sensor is beneficial.

The new battery sensor may be small, but it is a great technological advancement.  It gives drivers a good indication of when it is time to change their batteries.  This will cut down on breakdowns and stranded vehicles.  However, it is a good idea to have emergency auto assistance in case of unforeseen circumstances.

People tend to associate Japanese brand cars with reliability.  In a recent reliability list, 22 out of 33 car models were Japanese manufacturers.  A recent survey reveals that this year Subaru and Honda vehicles will rate at least average on reliability.

Also forecasted this year is that domestic vehicle models will continue to improve.  Leading the pack is Ford, and cars from Europe are following.

The excellent reliability experienced by Toyota in the past has slipped slightly.  For example, the 2007 Toyota V6 Camry and Tundra V8 were below average as far as reliability goes.  The Lexus GS was also below average.  Due to ratings for reliability these models aren’t recommended any longer.

Motorists should do their homework and make sure that they purchase a reliable vehicle.  You don’t want to find yourself in a broken down vehicle on the side of the road.  However, motorists should make sure to have an emergency roadside assistance program in case of circumstances that are unforeseen.